If you’re shopping for an air purifier, you could be noticing that some manufacturers are producing lots of claims. And many of those claims might appear too good to be true. So, it’s only natural that you could be wondering are air purifiers a waste of money.
They’re useful, according to the EPA, as they’re an excellent approach to better your Wausau home’s indoor air quality. Modern residences are solidly sealed and deeply insulated, which is good for energy efficiency, but not so fantastic for indoor air quality.
Because updated residences don’t naturally bring in as much fresh air as old residences, contaminants such as dust, pet dander and cleaning products can concentrate indoors. The result? Air that’s more contaminated than the outdoors, which is not good if you have allergies, asthma or are vulnerable to respiratory irritation.
Our indoor air quality professionals at Gilray Heating and Cooling can help you cut through the clutter and choose the best home air purifier. Just give us a call at 715-301-0727 and we’ll be happy to assist you. For now, find out more about how air purifiers operate, their pluses and our suggestions to help you select the best air purifier.
How Does an Air Purification System Work?
Most home air purifiers rely on a fan to collect air. Then, the air is pushed through one or more filters to collect pollutants before being sent out again.
These filters can have a charcoal filter, to eliminate odors, and a HEPA, or high efficiency particulate air, filter. A HEPA filter is at least 99.7% effective at catching miniscule particles as little as .3 microns, like dust, pollen, mold and some bacteria.
An air purifier can be compact and used to purify an individual room. Or they can be installed inside your HVAC system, delivering effective filtration for your total home.
The EPA says you should be aware that air purifiers can’t eliminate 100% of the contaminants from your house’s air. But when used in tandem with a better filter for your HVAC system, they can significantly lower the level of indoor air pollution.
4 Perks of an Air Purifier
Getting an air purifier for your home can deliver many good health pluses. Here are just a few of them.
1. Lowers Allergy and Asthma Triggers
Air purifiers reduce pollutants in your house, such as some of these standard triggers:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Volatile organic compounds, like cleaners, air fresheners and personal care products
2. Alleviates Other Issues Related to Poor Indoor Air Quality
Even if you or someone in your household doesn’t struggle with allergies or asthma, an air purifier can reduce other troubles linked to poor indoor air quality. These involve:
- Dry throat, eyes, nose or skin
- Headaches
- Sneezing and coughing
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
It can be tricky to distinguish issues related to indoor air quality, as they can be linked to a lot of other illnesses. However, if you’re observing that symptoms lessen after you leave home, your indoor air quality is likely causing trouble.
3. Gets Rid of Odors
Odors that hang around, including cigarette smoke or cooking smells, can be tough to remove. If you are having a hard time with getting rid of persistent smells in your home, our professionals suggest getting an air purifier with a charcoal or activated carbon filter.
4. Might Decrease Your Likelihood of Getting Sick
An air purifier can eliminate some bacteria and viruses under certain airflow conditions, keeping you and your loved ones in good health particularly during cold months. To receive full advantage of this plus, our professionals advise a UV air purifier. Disinfecting ultraviolet light gives an extra layer of defense against airborne pathogens.
Air Purifiers to Avoid
You’re better off without some air purifiers. Here are several options to avoid when selecting a system for your residence:
- Makes ozone. Some air purifiers create ozone, which can bother your lungs. The EPA recommends avoiding ozone air purifiers.
- Doesn’t use HEPA filters. For the best filtration, you’ll want a HEPA air purifier. Known as the gold standard for pure air, HEPA filters are used in the majority of healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
- Only purifies an individual room. We advise installing a whole-house air purifier, which purifies the air in every room. This style operates in tandem with your heating and cooling system.
When you call the indoor air quality experts at Gilray Heating and Cooling, we make it uncomplicated to choose the best air purifier for your house. Reach us at 715-301-0727 to begin breathing fresher air now!